Lord, I'm discouraged
The circles have sucked in her eyes
Lord, I'm discouraged
Her new friends have shadowed her life
Lord, I'm discouraged
She ain't come out dancin' for some time

And I'm tryin' to light candles
But they burn down to nothing
And she keeps comin' up with
Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
There's a house on the south side
She stays there for days at a time

I know I'm no angel
I ain't been bad that way
Can't you hear her?
She's that sweet missing songbird
When the choir sings on Sunday
And I'm almost busted
But I bought back the jewelry she sold

And I come to your altar
And then there's just nothing
She keeps on insisting
The sutures and bruises are none of my business
She says that she's sick, but she won't get specific
The sutures and bruises are none of my business
This guy from the north side
Comes down to visit
His visits, they only take five or six minutes

Lord, I'm sorry to question your wisdom
But my faith has been wavering
Won't you send me a sign,
Show me you're listening?

Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
Excuses and half-truths, and fortified wine
I know it's unlikely she'll ever be mine
So I mostly just pray she won't die...